Electroplating apparatus.



J. WEBER, JR. 6: O. COPE. ELEOTROPLATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1911.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

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J. WEBER, Jn. & 0. COPE. nnnowaormmu APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APB.27, 1911. 1 p04, 1 1 9, Patented Sept 26, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

' Jenn WEBER, .13., AND oBAnIAH COPE, or TOLEDO, 'oHIo:

ELECTROPLATING APPARAT S.-

: mgr-Apparatus; and we-do hereby declare the fellowing.;to:be a full, clear, and exaetfy description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains"to make and use the same, reference beinghadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specificat-iona" Our invention relates to apparatus for the electroplatingf'of metallic articles, and has reference more particularly to that class of such apparatus embodying a rotatable drum or" container into which the work to be plated is placed. 7

The-object of ourinvention is to provide an improved appar'atus of' this character Whi'ch'is simple in'-- its construction, inexpensive of'man'ufacture, and more'rapid and eificient in its oper'ation't'han apparatus of this" nature'heretofore us'ed,'thus enhancing 'its'.-practicability and commercial value.

.The invention is ,fully described in the following specification, and while, in its broader aspect, it is capable of embodiment innumerous forms, aprefe'rred embodiment thereof is illustrated 'in the accompanying drawings; in whi'ch,-

Figure 1 1s a central longitudinal section of a' s ratus comprisin'g'our invention.

Figs-2' and 4 are opposite end elevations thereof, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the Q-itioni thereon is the drum or work container" line X in Fig. 1.

Referring. to the drawings, 1, l'represe'nt cross-beams, which preferabl rest at their ends upon the tops of the sides of a tank (not shown) in which the electroplating solution; is disposed and with which the ap pa-ratus-comprising our .invention may be associated. Secured to and suspended from the beams 1 are shaft-hangers or bearingarms 2, of any suitable form, in which the ends of a preferably hollow shaft 3 are stationarily mounted. f

Mounted upon the shaft3 for free rota- 4 -of the apparatus. This dI1'lm While shown in the present instance as of 00-- tagonal shape in cross-section, may be of any other sultable form, as desired, and

, adjoining cathodes.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed April 27,51911. Serial No. 628,777;

Patented-Sept. 2c, 1911.

jcomprises the; two ends 5, 5 and the side ipanels 6, which are of non-metallic mate rial, and atleast one of the latter is capable of being easily removed to facilitate the depositing of articles into orthe removal of the same from the drum. The panels 6 are perforated or provided with openings 7 to permit the passage of the electroplating solution to the interior of the drum.

Rising fromthe shaft 3 within the end portions of the drum 4 are'arms 8, which are preferably laterally notched at their up the respective ends of a shaft 9 of wood or other material suitable to serve as a noncomluctorfor eleetricity.- The shaft 9 is. intended for the support of the anode of the apparatus, which comprises the pair of bars 10 and the connecting arms 11 at or ad s'i'ibstantially of inverted V-shape to adapt them to straddle the shaft .9, which is preferably above the solution line, and to suspend the bars 10 within the solution, as in- .dicated in Fig. 3.. The arms 11 are preferably notched at their crotches, as at 12, to provideseats for the shaft 9. Anelectric current is conducted tn, the anode through the positive wire 13, which leads from any suitable source'of electricity, and is shown as extendingd'ownthrough one of the hearing arms 2, thence through the associated end of the shaft 3' and into the drum through an opening- 3 in the shaft, after which it connects to the adjacent one of the anode arms 11.

The cathodes of the apparatus comprise the rods or wire-lil e members 14, one of which is'p'referably secured in any suitable manner to the inner side of eacli e, 'and extends longitudinally thereof for substantially its entire length. For the purpose of increasing the area of each cathode unit it' is provided within the drum with a plurality of spaced cross-arms 15 of wire or other material suita le for the purpose. The cross-arms 15 prefe ably terminate short of the side edges of the associated panel so as not to connect with the cross-arms of the The cathode wires let project without the drum through one. end tliereof, and each connects with a separate segment of a commutator 16, which is -mounted axially on such end of the drum to turn ilIQI'GWlZi, An electric-brush 17 rides on in p of the commutator and has per ends, as shown in Fig. 3, to receive jace'n't to the ends thereof. The arms 11 are drum panel 1 its arm 18 pivotally attached to a bracketpart 19, which may be mounted on the-associated cross-beam 1 and has the negative 20 of the electric circuit connected thereto. The cross-beam 1 is preferably of wood thus providing a mount of nonconducti-ve material' for the bracket 19. The cathode wires .14 do not connect to the commutator'segfew of such'wires which are at the lower portion of the drum and in contact with the articles to be electroplated are charged or in circuit with the brush, as, for instance, the'cathode wire which emerges from the drum at the lowermost point in Fig. 4 has its lead a connected to the commutator as at b. This is found in practice to be quite an important feature of the apparatus, as the electrical energy is thereby concentrated at the point where needed and is cut out from the cathode members which are not at or adjacent to the bottom of the drum.

Secured to the end of the drum which is relation thereto is a gear 21 to which rotation is communicated from a shaft 22 through the medium of the gears 23 vand 24. 'A wheel 25 is mounted on the shaft '22, and power is communicated thereto from any suitable source through a belt 26.

It is apparent that we have simple and eflicient apparatus 0 acter described, the anode of which is capable of lacing easily and quickly mounted within for removed from the drum and of freely swinging should articles ,within the drum move into contact therewith; and also that the arrangement and intermittent manner of cutting the cathode units or members into and out of the-electric circuit, not only enhances theefiiciency of this class of apparatus but also prolongs the life of the cathodes.

We wish it understood that our invention is not limlted to any specific construction or arrangement of the parts except in so far -a stationary shaft, a drum rotatably mount- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. 0. e

provided a the chared on said shaft, arms rising from the shaft within the drum, a bar carried by and connecting said arms above the shaft, said bar being-a nonconductorfor electricity, an d an anode carried by said bar and comprising members which are disposed on opposlte sides of the shaft in spacedvrelation there-. I to, and substantially inverted V-shaped arms which connect said members and cooperate with 'said bar to support the same. 2. In an apparatus of the class described,

a stationary shaft, adrum rotatablymount-j ed on said shaft, arms rising from said shaft and having their up 1'. ends laterally notched, a bar mounte in'the n'otches of said arms and connecting the same above the shaft, said bar being a nonconductor for electricity," and ananode mounted to freely rock upon said bar and havingarms suspended from said 'bar at opposite sides. of

the shaft in substantial parallelism there-- with.

3. In anapparatus of the class described,-

a hollow stationary shaft, a drum rotatably' mounted on said shaft, arms rising said shaft, a member connecting said arms above theshaft, an anode mounted to freely rock upon said member and having arts. suspended on op osite sides of said s aft, opposed to the commutator 16 in concentric an an electrica conductor entering the drumthrough an end of said shaft and attaching to said anode. I

4. In arr-apparatus of the class described,

from-3' a rotatable drum, a plurality of cathode units. disposed within the drum and eachcomprising abar-like member which extends longitudinally of-the drum and has a plurality of cross-arms.

5. In an apparatus of the class described,

a rotatable drum, a segmental commutator carried by an end of the drum, an electrical brush working on said commutator, and a plurality of cathode units disposed interiorly of the drum and each comprising atleast j one member which is secured to theside of the drum and extends longitudinally thereof, cross-arms attached to said-members,

said members each having an end projecting without the drum and connected to "a com.- mutator segment.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: i

C. W. OWEN, C. H. BILLS.

Commissioner of IPaten'ts, 

